The Orlando Magic put together an improbable comeback against the Miami Heat on Thursday night, benefiting from a barrage of three-pointers and lockdown defense in the second half. And there was a comical and bizarre play that signified the Heat’s collapse. The Heat, who at one time led the Magic by 24 points, were ahead 73-54 midway through the third quarter when it happened. LeBron James did something we haven’t seen all NBA season — he flung a pass off Chris Bosh’ face while Bosh was apparently looking to set a screen on James’ man. It’s so peculiar, so out of the ordinary, that you have to wonder if there was a hidden meaning behind James’ action.

The Miami Heat and their fans should do nothing but thank LeBron James , even if they are spitting nails. The Heat won two titles they never would have won otherwise. Their fans got to experience "The Heatles" phenomenon. The franchise struck financial gold. Tweeted Heat owner Micky Arison , "I am shocked & disappointed in today's news. However I will never forget what Lebron brought us for 4 years. Thanks for memories @KingJames. " Perhaps Arison's private feelings are more caustic after James announced Friday he was bolting the Heat to return to Cleveland.

It's that time for the Orlando Magic. Their season and their goals are on the line. Everything they plotted and worked for throughout the season and even in the offseason could be revived or could disintegrate tonight against the Boston Celtics. Some things unrelated to the Eastern Conference finals happened yesterday, too. Yao Ming's baby girl was born in Houston as an American citizen. Chris Bosh's agent reportedly provided a wish list of sorts to Raptors management. Among the teams he'd like to play for -- the Heat, Bulls, Knicks and Lakers.

When Pat Riley was still coaching the Miami Heat, the master motivator was delivering another rah-rah locker-room speech. There was a bucket of ice water in front of him. "If you want to win a championship, you have to want it," Riley began, then stopped to plunge his head into the bucket. He stayed under for a minute, maybe more, leaving players awestruck. Riley then jerked his head out of the water to finish his sentence ... "like it's your last breath!" His most recent motivational talk to the Heat as club president was as subtle as a sledgehammer.

ÃÂÃÂ With ESPN reporting that Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are getting ready to announce later today that both will sign with the Miami Heat, the question is this: Are Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic or Wade-Bosh and the Miami HeatÃÂÃÂ favored to win the NBA's Southeast Division next season? ÃÂÃÂ Hate to say it, but I think the Heat, who finished 2-2 against the Magic last season,ÃÂÃÂ have to be favored now to unseat the Magic as division champs.

It appears that Heat center Chris Bosh will be back for tonight's playoff game against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden after attending the birth of his son, Jackson, at 3 a.m. Thursday morning in Florida. Though Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said at the Heat's morning shoot around that Bosh's status was a game-time decision, his teammates believe he will rejoin the team. "I'd bet he'd be here," LeBron James said. "It's a huge game. I'm with him and his family and all, but I would hope that he would be here.

The Tour de Tube continues for Chris Bosh , this time with a cameo in Matthew Perry 's latest bid at post- Friends fame. Bosh, who previously appeared on Entourage and Law & Order: SVU since joining the Miami Heat as a free agent in July 2010, offered a hint on Twitter, when he posted Friday: "Pulling a late night on set w/the cast of Go On. @ NBC @ matthewperry @ tylerjameswill @ ...

Chris Bosh said he was ready for more. Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra agreed, but only to a degree, playing Bosh off the bench for a second consecutive game Thursday. Instead, for the second consecutive game, Udonis Haslem opened at center for the Heat and Shane Battier at power forward. Bosh had been out since May 13 with a lower-abdominal strain before returning as a reserve in Tuesday's Game 5 loss of the Eastern Conference finals against the Celtics, playing 14 minutes.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Chris Bosh ice cream event scheduled for Aug. 26 at The Frieze on Miami Beach, mentioned below, was postponed by Tropical Storm Isaac . The event will now take place on Sept. 9 from 4 to 6 p.m. Chris Bosh does not have to look far to be reminded of the magical sensation of winning the NBA championship with the Miami Heat in June. Thanks to Oprah. One of the best things about the team's post-championship talk-show hoopla is that it introduced a nation familiar only with the media-created villains to the real LeBron James , Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

For the second time in as many days, a member of the Miami Heat on Friday pulled out of this summer's Olympics, leaving forward LeBron James as the lone member of the NBA champions still planning to participate in the London Games. Agent Henry Thomas told the Sun Sentinel that forward Chris Bosh would be unable to participate with USA Basketball this summer due to the lower-abdominal strain sustained during the second round of the playoffs. Thursday, Heat guard Dwyane Wade pulled out of the Olympics due ongoing knee pain.

So, what now LeBron? After his Miami Heat were thrashed in the NBA Finals in five games by the San Antonio Spurs, it's decision time for LeBron James. James - and other “Big Three” members Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh - can opt out of their contacts with Miami. So, will they stay with the Heat or is it time to move on to new adventures and challenges? LeBron said he is thinking over his options, including the need for more support if he remains in Miami? "Obviously, we would need to get better from every facet, every position," James said after Sunday night's loss.

The Miami Heat might be looking to another All-Star for help, an ironic notion, considering they already house a wing of future Hall of Famers. In an NBA Finals in which the San Antonio Spurs are making the extra pass, the Heat are linked to Carmelo Anthony , who thrives on taking the extra shot. There's surely a lesson to be learned if the Heat are paying attention: The Spurs are showing Miami what it lacks this postseason - and needs in the offseason. They don't need 'Melo.

Once upon a time, there was The Big Three. That evolved into Two-and-A-Half Men, since Chris Bosh became subject to moments of going AWOL on any given night. And now there is One. The Chosen One. LeBron James. The Miami Heat will rise up against the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals on his shoulders, and no one else's. Does anyone really think that if James pulled up with a bad hammy and couldn't play in the Finals, either Bosh or Dwyane Wade have the strength to piggyback the Heat on their quest for a three-peat?

MIAMI - Glen Davis wore a souvenir from his first game back in a Magic uniform in 10 months. "LeBron caught me with an elbow," Davis said, sporting a Band-Aid near his right eye. LeBron James and the Miami Heat also caught the Magic on Saturday night, recording an 101-99 comeback win and spoiling Davis' spectacular return. Davis, playing his first game since breaking his left foot in January, scored 20 points and grabbed five rebounds. Davis' three-point play gave the Magic a 99-99 tie, but James' jumper with 15 seconds left allowed the Heat to escape.

Three years ago, the Heat staged their silly pep-rally, suggesting multiple titles could be won. LeBron James : "Not two, not three, not four, not five, not six, not seven…" LeBron was simply playing to the crowd that summer day as Miami celebrated the assembling of the Big Three. But everyone held the Heat to it, at least to the essence of a promised dominance. The Heat have played in three consecutive Finals, lost in the Big Three's first shot at it and have won the last two. The Heat can be vicious and vulnerable - vulnerable when Dwyane Wade is aching and Chris Bosh is a spectator.

Ask Ira! SunSentinel Heat Writer Ira Winderman answers YOUR questions about the team! You can read his latest comments below. To submit your question, e-mail here . Please include your name, city and state with each question. September 24, 2012 Q: Why are all the fans so worried that other teams signed more quality free agents than the Heat? Mike Miller barely played last year and Haslem struggled with injuries, while Norris Cole was on a steep learning curve as a rookie without a training camp.

Chris Bosh could have easily been lying in bed Monday morning. There was no reason for him to attend the Miami Heat practice session, but he felt obligated. It was his way of showing teammates he's in good spirits and has every intention of returning to the team during the playoffs. Until then, Bosh is out indefinitely after suffering a strained abdominal muscle in the first half of Sunday's win against the Indiana Pacers. He missed the final two quarters and will sit out Tuesday's Game 2 in the Eastern Conference semifinals at AmericanAirlines Arena.

In this case, perhaps "C"-ing is believing. Chris Bosh isn't willing to go that far yet, but there has been a dramatic change for the better in Bosh's productivity since Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra shifted his All-Star power forward to center last week. While the move was made to get fellow Heat power forward Udonis Haslem into the starting lineup alongside Bosh, the impact on Bosh's statistics has been profound. In following up his 16-point, 14-rebound effort Sunday against the New York Knicks with 22 points and 15 rebounds Monday against the New Jersey Nets , Bosh has recorded consecutive double-doubles for the first time since Feb. 12. So is it because he is now being designated in box scores as a center instead of a power forward?

Chris Bosh said he's open to returning as the center of attention. One of the Miami Heat 's big three with LeBron James and Dwayne Wade, Bosh told ESPN.com that he expects to open the 2012-13 as the team's starting center. "It's becoming natural to me," Bosh told ESPN.com. "I have a very unique opportunity to do something very special for myself and my team. I think all the time that you have to evolve and get better. This is me evolving as a player. " Bosh, a 6-foot-11, 235-pound power forward, said he hesitated after logging minutes there during his time with the Toronto Raptors . But after seeing results, Bosh is more willing.

The Tour de Tube continues for Chris Bosh , this time with a cameo in Matthew Perry 's latest bid at post- Friends fame. Bosh, who previously appeared on Entourage and Law & Order: SVU since joining the Miami Heat as a free agent in July 2010, offered a hint on Twitter, when he posted Friday: "Pulling a late night on set w/the cast of Go On. @ NBC @ matthewperry @ tylerjameswill @ ...